Women demand: End gender bias at Olympic

Sixty women’s delegates from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia rallied in London today to demand: “London 2012: Justice for Women – an end to gender discrimination at the Olympics.”

The protest was coordinated by the European Women’s Lobby, which is linked to a network of more than 1,500 women’s organisations across Europe:http://goo.gl/J9Y62
“In advance of the Olympics, our intention is to remind the IOC of its obligation to apply the principles of equality and neutrality inscribed in the Olympic Charter,” said London 2012: Justice for Women.

The delegation presented letters to all IOC delegates at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, where the IOC is headquartered. The letters outline the seven equality demands made by the London 2012: Justice for Women movement.

London 2012: Justice for Women 7 Demands:
Three demands against gender discrimination:

1. Parity: Equal numbers of male and female Olympic disciplines and events
2. Decision-making bodies: apply immediately a minimum quota of 20% women’s representation and set parity objectives
3. Homage and visibility: the IOC President should give the gold medal to both the male and the female marathon winners, and not only to the male winner

Three demands against sexual segregation:

4. No more male-only delegations
5. Competitors and officials must not be allowed to wear politico-religious symbols
6. IOC should no longer support gender the segregated games for women organized by Tehran

One demand to build a better world of equality and inclusion:

7. No more stereotypes (sexism, homophobia, transphobia), separation of Olympics / Paralympics, and end prostitution around the Olympics

10:30
Short presentation about the organisations supporting “London 2012: Justice for Women” and guest of honour, Waris Dirie

10:40
Annie Sugier, speaker for the International League for Women’s Rights and Françoise Morvan, Vice President of the French Coordination for the European Women’s Lobby, representing 80 NGOs.
Who we are, where it all began: the Barcelona Games 1992 and the foundation of the Atlanta+ Committee.
The Olympic Charter, the sole law for the Olympics.
Our seven demands
Short video: when women reject the veil.
IOC’s betrayal of equality principles
Questions/Answers

11:50
Why we support “London 2012: Justice for women” (3 minutes each):
Martha Jean Baker, Lawyer, Vice-President of European Women Lobby,
Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell foundation,
Anne Liardet, sailor (Vendée Globe Challenge),
Nina Charlier responsible for the syndicate of sports (teachers in France) ,
Audrey Keyser co-author of “Feminine football, are women the future of football?”
Ana Pak journalist, Iranian political exile
Shoukria Haidar, President of an Afghan NGO, former member of the Afghan NOC (written message from Kabul),
Sundas Hoorain, from One Law for All
Questions/Answers

12:20
Sonia Lokar, Chair of the European Women’s Lobby representing NGOs will conclude the session.